A devastating fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, has sparked widespread travel disruptions, forcing Heathrow Airport to close all day Friday.
Counter-terrorism police have launched an investigation into the blaze, which has left thousands of passengers stranded in the UK and abroad.
The fire, which broke out at approximately 11:30 pm on Thursday, has caused a significant power outage at Heathrow, prompting officials to shut down the airport until at least 11:59 pm tonight.
The disruption is expected to last well into the weekend, with over 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow affected.
According to London Fire Brigade, 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters are still battling the blaze, with part of a transformer still alight.
A 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution, and approximately 150 people have been evacuated from surrounding properties.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the fire as “unprecedented,” stating that it appeared to have disabled both the primary and backup power generators.
The incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of Heathrow’s infrastructure.
In addition to the airport closure, the fire has also affected nearby residents, with over 100,000 homes initially left without power.
However, National Grid has reported that the number of affected homes has been reduced to around 4,000, with efforts underway to restore power supplies as quickly as possible.
Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates on flight schedules and cancellations
